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7. Drug Treatment and Testing Orders (Chart 24-26 and Tables 36-40, 61 and 62)
7.1 Information on DTTOs and DTTO Assessments was provided for the first time in 2003-04. Paragraph 18.10 in the annex provides further information on the availability of DTTOs to sheriff courts across Scotland in 2004-05. A total of 549 DTTOs and 1,204 DTTO Assessments were made in 2004-05 up 33 per cent and 19 per cent respectively from the figures of 412 orders and 1,013 assessments in 2003-04.
7.2 The incidence of DTTOs was 1.5 per 10,000 population in 2004-05, up from 1.2 in 2003-04. Of the participating local authority areas, this rate was highest in North Ayrshire (3.6), Fife (3.2) and Inverclyde (2.9); and lowest in East Renfrewshire (0.2), Aberdeen City (0.7, including figures for Aberdeenshire), East Ayrshire (1.5), Renfrewshire (1.5) and South Ayrshire (1.5).
7.3 Male offenders accounted for 83 per cent of DTTOs. Over half (54 per cent) of all females and 39 per cent of males receiving DTTOs were aged 25 or under. Twenty-nine per cent of males and 25 per cent of females receiving DTTOs were aged over 30 years. The incidence of DTTOs was highest amongst 21 to 25 year olds (6.0 per 10,000 population) and 26 to 30 year olds (5.7).
Drug Treatment and Testing Orders by Age and Gender of Offender, 2003-04 to 2004-05
Orders per 10,000 population
Chart 24
7.4 DTTOs were most likely to be 18 months in length (61 per cent) or 24 months (20 per cent). Females were more likely to receive a DTTO of less than 18 months (31 per cent) than males (14 per cent). Only one per cent of DTTOs were for lengths of greater than 24 months, a decrease from 5 per cent in 2003-04.
7.5 Seventy-nine per cent of DTTOs were imposed on offenders who were unemployed or not seeking employment.
Breach Applications of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders
7.6 There were 203 breach applications made to the Courts in 2004-05 in respect of DTTOs, an increase of 52 per cent from 134 in 2003-04. The number of breach applications is not directly comparable with the number of orders previously provided (which covers new orders only) as some breach applications may relate to orders started in the previous year. However, considering the lengths of orders started since 2003-04, allows a rough estimate to be made of the number of orders running during the year. This gives an estimated total of 950 DTTOs running in 2004-05 suggesting approximately one in five orders results in a breach application.
7.7 One third of breach applications resulted in the original order being revoked and a custodial sentence imposed, up from 25 per cent in 2003-04. Only two per cent resulted in the order being revoked and a new DTTO imposed whilst a further 21 per cent resulted in the original order being revoked and some other action taken. In 11 per cent of applications, the DTTO was continued and varied and in 1 per cent it was continued with a monetary penalty. A further 11 per cent resulted in the original order being continued and no further action taken by the court. The outcome was not yet known in 11 per cent of applications.
DTTO Breach Applications by Outcome, 2003-04 to 2004-05
Chart 25
7.8 Males accounted for 72 per cent of breach applications. The majority (85 per cent) of breaches were caused by non compliance, 11 per cent by a further offence (committed during the period of the DTTO) and the remainder resulted from both non compliance and a further offence.
Terminations of DTTOs
7.9 A total of 315 DTTOs were terminated in 2004-05, an increase of 54 per cent on the 205 terminations in 2003-04. Thirty-eight per cent were successfully completed including those given early discharge following a review. Forty-two per cent of orders were terminated following a breach application and 10 per cent following a review. The remaining were terminated for other reasons.
DTTO Terminations by Outcome, 2003-04 to 2004-05
Chart 26
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